Report: King Abdullah II declined meeting request from Netanyahu

Jordan King Abdullah II reportedly declined a request for a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli media report published Monday.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11), citing Israeli and Arab sources, said Netanyahu’s office had contacted the Jordanian Royal Court prior to the escalation of the war with Iran, seeking to arrange a meeting between the two leaders.

According to the report, Jordan responded by setting a number of conditions for such a meeting. A source familiar with the discussions indicated that the King ultimately refused the request, citing several concerns, including the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation authorities.

Jordanian sources close to decision-making circles in Amman confirmed that the request had been received and that Jordan sought clarification from Israel on multiple key issues. These included the establishment of a Palestinian state, preventing the displacement of Gaza’s population, halting settler violence in the West Bank, rejecting annexation of Palestinian land, preserving the status quo, ensuring Muslim access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, securing a new water agreement, and facilitating humanitarian aid.

The report stated that Israeli responses failed to meet these conditions, leading Jordan to decline the meeting. Amman reportedly chose not to provide Netanyahu with what it viewed as a potential “diplomatic achievement,” instead maintaining communication through existing security channels.

According to the sources, the proposed meeting was also intended to signal to the United States that relations between Jordan and Israel remained stable, particularly following developments related to a ceasefire in Gaza.